Tokyo’s Nikkei closed up 111.66 points, or +0.40%, at 27,914.66 points, supported by a recovery in export stocks after the weakening of the yen. Technology stocks also gained. Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha+11.31%, Nippon Yusen K.K+4.02% and Recruit Holdings+3.45% were the best performers. The worst performers were Tokyo Electric Power Co, Inc -2.75% and Daiichi Sankyo -2.74%.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 closed at 6,791.50, down 2.80 or -0.04%, and the All Ordinaries closed at 7,011.80, down 6.60 or -0.09%, as the decline in communications stocks pressured the market. Webjet-6.33%, Mesoblast-4.52%, and Domino’S Pizza Enterprises-4.48% were the worst performers. Pointsbet Holdings (+16.25%), Zip (+13.55%), and Polynovo (+9.18%) were the best performers.
The South Korean Stock Exchange Composite (KOSPI) closed at 2,393.14 points, down 16.02 points, or -0.66%, after the European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates higher than expected. This prompted investors to worry again that the global economy may slide into recession, while the won currency depreciated against the US dollar. The losers were Kp-13.79%, TYM-8.09%, and Chosun Welding-7.21%. The gainers were Pyung Hwa Hldg+29.91%, Pyung Hwa Ind+29.86% and Hyundai-Rotem+20.79%.
China’s Shanghai Composite closed down 2.03 points, or -0.06%, at 3,269.97 as investors remain concerned about the slowdown in the Chinese economy. This is partly due to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) downgrading its forecast for Chinese economic growth this year. The losers were Guangyu Dev A(-10%), Xt Electrochem A(-10%) and Guizhou BC&TV(-9.98%). The gainers were Sicc(+20%), Anhui Chaoyue Environmental Protection(+19.99%), and NanJing Sanchao Advanced Materials(+19.98%).
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong closed up 34.51 points, or +0.17%, at 20,609.14, following the gains of the Dow Jones on Thursday (July 21). The best performers were Watts International Maritime (+10%). , Enterprise Development(+48.51%) and Game one(+30.26). The worst performers were Huijing Holdings-88.31%, PB-30%, and Hao Bai International Cayman-29.31%.
The SET in Thailand closed at 1,552.73 points, up 6.42 points or +0.42%. The best performers were NFC (+14.41%), Copper Wire (+13.81%), and Thai Rung Union Car (+8.74%).